Chain ladder construction



Nov. 2, 1943. L. L. W ESTLI NG CHAIN LADDER CONSTRUCTION Fil ed July 11. 1942 mmvroze, LES TER L. WESTL/NG.

A T TORNE V.

Patented Nov. 2, 1943 CHAIN LADDEB CEQNSHZRUCTIQN n t rnvv umg, Oakland, Calif. Application July 11, 1942,.SerialNo. 450, 96

Claims.

This invention relates to a novel ladder construction and more particularly to a chain ladder of uniform strength throughout its length including the points at which rungs are secured.

Objects of the invention are to provide a ladder having a run of side chain having no projections to hurt the hand or catch clothing, to provide a ladder simple and inexpensive to produce and adapted for rapid assembly and which can be made of any unbroken length without special terminal fittings.

Further objects are to provide a ladder which is uniform in strength at all points and wherein no fastenings are in stress.

A further object is to provide a chain ladder wherein no cutting or welding of chain is required and which can be manufactured entirely from non-combustible materials, and more specifically, to provide novel means for fixing the rungs to side chains.

Still further objects and advantages of the ladder will become apparent upon reading the specification and referring to the drawing appended hereto.

Referring to the drawing in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a rung secured to the chain by my novel means.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The ladder preferably utilizes welded side chain of about 8 links per linear foot for side suspensory member 2 and rungs 3 are suitably spaced horizontally therebetween and secured at opposite ends thereto. To secure the rungs to the chain suspensory members 2, the tubular metal rungs 3 are preferably spread and flattened at each end as at 4 to receive a link 5, of a chain 2, said link 5 being turned at right angles to its normal straight position relative to adjacent chain links in extended straight position. The end portions of the rungs are flattened so that the inside diameter of the ends of the tubular rungs are the approximate diameter of the link stock material of the side chains. The link 5 is driven into the rung end 4 until the exposed portion of the said link comes to about a position of contact with the adjacent links 6 as at 6 and the inserted portion of the said link 5 is secured within the rung by a suitable keeper bolt or rivet l, or by other appropriate means.

The rungs are fixed to the suspensory members at opposite ends in the manner as aforesaid. The links which are turned at right angles in the two suspensory members are chosen to correspond with one another in their relative positions in the side chains so that the rungs when aflixed to the said right angled links are level and also parallel with respect to each other when the ladder is in vertical surpended positions. The means for fastening the rungs to the side chains provides a definite advantage over prior chain ladders in that there are no special links or fittings required to be incorporated in the conventional side chain utilized, and unusual link stress is obviated. A chain is as strong as its weakest link, and here the links are of uniform strength throughout.

If it is desired to suspend the ladder over the side of a vessel or over some other smooth fiat surface spacer plates 8 may be provided at opposite ends of the rungs to provide toe space between the rungs and the surface over which the ladder is to be used. The plate 8 is a metal disk provided with a central elliptical hole 9 adapted to fit over the flattened end portion 4 of the rung and is welded or otherwise fixed thereon adjacent the end of the said rung and extends radially therefrom a suitable distance in order to insure suitable toe space between the rung and the surface to be scaled. It is noted that the spacer plates extend from both sides of the rung so that the ladder is reversible. The plates 8 also serve a further purpose of guarding against the possibility of the flattened end portions of the rungs becoming jammed into the open portions of the links adjacent the right angled links during storage or at other times.

The ladder may be supported in any of a number of suitable manners such as by a rod extending through the top links of the two side chains and made fast to the top of the climb, or by providing hooks at the top ends of the side chains adapted to engage an appropriate fixture. In some cases it is advantageous to lash down the bottom ends of the side chains to prevent lateral movement of the suspended ladder. Further details and modifications of use are deemed obvious and not necessary to be referred to at length.

Although I have described my ladderconstruction in more or less specific detail of embodiment, it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a chain ladder the combination of a chain and a rung aifixed to a link of said chain, said entire link being turned endwise toward said rung at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said chain in extended position, and means to secure the end of said link to said rung.

2. In a chain ladder the combination of a side chain and a rung having an open end, the open end of said rung adapted to receive a link of said chain turned endwise toward said open end of said rung at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said chain in extended position, and means to hold the end of said link in said open end.

3. In a ladder, the combination of a side chain, a link of said chain turned at right angles to its normal position relative to adjacent links, and a rung having an open end adapted to receive said link, said rung end opening being substantially of the same dimensions as to cross sectional dimensions of the said chain link, and means to hold said link in said rung.

4. In a chain ladder the combination of a chain and a rung having an open end aflixed to a link of said chain, said link being turned endwise toward said rung at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said chain in extended position, means to secure the end of said link in said endwise position in the open end of said rung, and a spacer plate fixed to said rung adjacent the end thereof and extending radially therefrom.

5. In a ladder, the combination of a side chain, a link of said chain turned at right angles to its normal position relative to adjacent links, and a rung having an open end adapted to receive said link, said rung end opening being substantially of the same dimensions as the cross sectional dimensions of the said chain link means to hold said link in said rung, and a spacer plate fixed to said rung adjacent the end thereof and extending radially therefrom.

LESTER L. WESTLING. 

